The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-05
THE GIANT or THE ARMY.
Che Tallest Policeman in America
Curious Episodes OF His History.
FroDl the NeiU Yor& World


Der, of Reading, Pa, stands feet inches
high. He excites wonder wherever he casts
his prodigious shadow. His life is full of
romance and the most ludicrous incidents,
all brought about through the startling sur
prises of his towering presence. He is a
highly honored citizen, a machinist by trade.
but in the recently inaugurated administla-
tion of Mayor Kenney has been appointed
to the position of Chief of Police He is a
unique character in that place--the tallest
policeman in America.
He is a married man and has children.
His wife measures feet 4 inches and looks
strikingly diminutive by his side. His
domestic arrangements, the architectural
features of his house, the dimensions of his
varied furniture, are ali of special measure
ment and suited to his size. He sleeps i'm
bed made to order over feet in the clear.
so are his chairs. An exception to the COM
mon rule of arrangements must always be
made in his behalf.
The war histcry' of this man is UNIQUE and
interesting. AS soldier prodigy he excited
the curiosity of the President even, and he
was singled out by the generals and soldiers
for special favors and orders. He was but
a mere STRIPPING when he enlisted, but Capt
John Z. Arthur, company B, Ninety third
Pennsylvania regiment, gives him the
highest testimonials as a patriotic soldier
He served his term for three years and re-
enlisted for three months in the militia, and
for the third time in the One Hundred and
Ninety sixth Pennsylvania regiment, as
First Lieutenant. He got three discharges
and commissions. He was wounded in the
battle Of Fair Oaks ON May 81, 1862,
by a sharp-shooter in the right leg, below
the knee His wound is in an ulcered con-
dition since then, covering a sore spot as
large as a hand, for which painful insignia
Of patriotic service he gets but SIG month
pension.
While in the service he was rarely lucky
enough to secure tent sufficiently large
To sleep within the compass of his shelter he
was obliged to double up, or curve his lower
sxtremities around the open space of the
stove. At Camp Mary the soldiers drew
their first ''sky-blue pantaloons,n and that
opened another predicament The Colonel
McCarter, sent his card to the tall soldier
with his compliments, requesting him to
equip himself and make his appearance on
the parade grounds for inspection. 1t was
bitter cold day, and the icy bottom made
walking dangerous. Our soldier donned
his regimentals, obeyed his orders
and appeared at the designated hour
But he was spectacle to behold The largest
size of trousers was No. 45, and in the legs
were six inches too short. He stood in No
the pants and the shoes The coat was
decidedly astray; the buttons on the waist
showed off from the middle of the back, the
sleeves touched the elbows, and in this sorry
plight he marched out to a prearranged
programme The boys broke ranks, and boot
ed and shouted in the widest paroxysm of
sport and hustled the tortured soldier as if
sought to be met by directing this breathing
anomaly of nature to the Clothing Depart
ment at Washington. With pass in hand,
Sergt. Fritz and Shaaber confronted the
Ouartermaster General The latter smiled
md obviously shook his head as he scanned
hose legs and arms. They beat about the
heaps of clothing in every aisle. The Quarter
MASTER then halted in a meditative attitude,
and suddenly exclaimed in joyous relief, II
have it," He hauled out two of the largest
sizes OF pantaloons and said: "There, splice
them and make you pair" He marched
out With two pair of pantaloons under one
arm and two pairs of blankets under the
other. On their return to camp, Shaaber,
with an inventive instinct, espied beauti-
full pair of leggings in a show-window, which
he purchased as a better alternative for
short trousers. The hint was at once taken
by the company, and out of Difference to
their giant comrade they adopted the high
gaiter for all future purposes. 1t was a
most serviceble accession of soldier outfit.
Perhaps the most significant incident in
his life, brought about solely through his
stature, was the impromptu meeting with
Abraham Lincoln. After Christmas camp
was changed from Camp Mary to Camp
Ienallytown 1t was while passing in re-
view on Penn avenue that the Captain
directed Shaaber's attention to a gentleman
on the sidewalk calling out after him, Dub!
Buh" With permission he stepped over to
corner of E and Penn avenue where a small
n fitiv tAnI T,n i,,fa
view is best told in his own words: II no
more than got there when a tall, gaunt-look-
ing man grasped me by the hand in a most
friendly manner, saying, Excuse my rude
nesst The stranger pleased me at once
though did not recognize the homely face.
de was dressed in black frocl coat, cling
ing somewhat indifferently to stopped
shoulders, black hat and had pale look
ing countenance, thoughtful and serious in
It's caste, but suddenly looming up into
pleasant outlines when addressing me- The
cltlzens by his side were more elegantly at
tired, and recognized among them Curtin
ana Cameron. The snow was all the while
drivlng into our faces, blowing intensely
cold-mud and slush running over shoetops
he next asked me my size, and added, 1T
was Jealousy on my part that made me call
you out to size up / told him that / was 6
feet inches high, just passed my sixteenth
year, and weighed 140 pounds. He forthwith
drew out of his pocket "a black-covered
memorandum and with an ordinary stub
pencil noted my answer down. He then in
produce himself in the characteristic way,
am Old Abel | was startled, but felt
honored. He next introduced me to his
company and to Vice President Hamlin as
MY sonp After quite prolonged CONVEX
Satlon, he volunteered good advice to me.
tie indicated what my habits should be, my
diet In camp, that l must eat no pastry and
emphasized the precaution against the use
or intoxicating drinks He told me that
when lying down to sleep / should always
rest the head lower than the chest, to expand
my lungs, and seriously added, Il am afraid
you will not stand the service
u essayed to leave, but Just then thinking
OF the orders about stragglers, l asked him
10 give me pass, else the patrolmen might
gather me into the guardhouse. He at once
reproduced his memorandum-boo tore ont a
blank, and in gust of storm wrote these
words:
Pass the soldier on his way with his regiment
10 camp, by request of ABE LINCOLN
/, My knapsack was captured in battle and
Vnls memento lost. When that grand old
man babe me good-by, he embraced me,
virtually put his right arm around my neck,
and said with kindly emotion: 'Good-hy,
my son! God bless you! Come soon and dine
with me-
IL was about New Years that Mai. Fritz
and COmrpde Shaa ba,. eo,,p+aro1 iofo to,t,,